Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
The verse stands in the early part of the book of Job, which sets forth the great problems of overruling providence, sin and suffering. It belongs to the account where God is disciplining Job by bringing him through the fire of affliction. At the same time his three friends charge him with sin and declare that his sufferings are because of sin, showing how prone humanity is to misjudge its fellows in affliction.
It is Job's desire to speak directly to the Almighty, to present his case and reason with Him. He longs to learn the reason for his afflictions. Though his suffering and his friends' condemnation trouble him, his knowledge of God sustains him as he seeks God's answer. He wants to reason with God about his righteousness, believing that if God hears his case his cause will be vindicated, which reflects his tendency to justify himself.
The verse stands in the early part of the book of Job, which sets forth the great problems of overruling providence, sin and suffering. It belongs to the account where God is disciplining Job by bringing him through the fire of affliction. At the same time his three friends charge him with sin and declare that his sufferings are because of sin, showing how prone humanity is to misjudge its fellows in affliction.
It is Job's desire to speak directly to the Almighty, to present his case and reason with Him. He longs to learn the reason for his afflictions. Though his suffering and his friends' condemnation trouble him, his knowledge of God sustains him as he seeks God's answer. He wants to reason with God about his righteousness, believing that if God hears his case his cause will be vindicated, which reflects his tendency to justify himself.